Wilmington hoping to name auditorium in Benton's memory

WILMINGTON - The legacy of late superintendent Joanne Benton has touched many in the Wilmington community. In May, Annual Town Meeting will have the opportunity to vote on a warrant article seeking to name the high school auditorium after her.

The School Committee recently requested that the Board of Selectmen approve the article for the Saturday, May 5 Town Meeting. All selectmen - except for Michael McCoy, who was not in attendance at that meeting - voted in favor of the article.

School Committee Chair Steve Bjork, said Benton was instrumental in the design and implementation of the new high school, which was built in 2015. Benton passed away last April.

"The entire School Committee believes that naming the auditorium in her honor is a fitting, lasting tribute to a woman who dedicated more than a decade of her life to the young people," Bjork said in an email. "In addition to doing her job superbly, she was always attending WHS sporting events and artistic performances."

Board of Selectmen Chair Michael Champoux said he looks forward to "voting loudly in favor" of the article come May.

"Ms. Benton, rest her soul, argued vehemently that the arts were so important to our community - and they are - and the (Massachusetts School Building Authority) acquiesced under her direction and under her pressure and the auditorium that we now enjoy with the addition of the orchestra pit advanced space is really in its form today largely because of the effort she put forth," Champoux said at the Selectmen's meeting.

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"And that's just the auditorium."

According to the letter the School Committee send to selectmen, the auditorium's performance stage has enough space for the high school's "sizable student band and string performance groups."

Selectman Kevin Caira said he spoke with his brother and former town manager, Michael Caira, who said Benton championed the auditorium expansion.

"She did a lot of work over there on behalf of the students and the residents of the town," Caira said. "It's a worthy honor and naming of the auditorium."

Benton served as the district's superintendent from 2007 through 2014, at which time she retired. Prior to that, Benton was employed as the assistant superintendent.

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